Mail-delivering apparatus.



H. BACON.

MAI'L DELIVERING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9,1916.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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H. BACON.

MA-H. DELIVERING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 19l6.

flfilfififi. Patented Feb. 20,1917.

2 SHEET$-SHEET 2.

HUGH BACON, 01E JONESBORO, TENNESSEE.

llE AIL-IDELIVERING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hoar-r BACON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jonesboro, in the county of Washington and State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful improvements in lVlail-Delivering Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an apparatus for delivering mail and more particularly arranged for use in rural districts for the transfer of mail. to. and from the mail boxes and resiiflences.

The invention is particularly directed to a motor driven carrier in which the mail is adapted to be deposited, which carrier, by the simple manipulation of a single lever, may be caused to travel in the desired direction.

The invention in the preferred form of details will be described in the following specification, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved device showing the elevated track support and the respective elements thereof.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail illustrating the control.

.liig. 1 is a vertical section of'the same.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawings, 1 represents a box-like carrier or container approximately of cylindrical form, the respective ends thereof, 2 and 3, being preferably conical to avoid undue resistance of the air in the travel of the carrier. The end 3 is formed as a movable section, to permit the introduction and with drawal of the mail matter, being for this purpose hinged at f to the receptacle proper and provided diametrically opposite the hinged portion with latch connections 5, whereby the same may be held closed. The end 3, which will be hereinafter designated the cover, is provided with a handle 6, whereby it may be conveniently manipulated and the receptacle proper is provided with a lip '7 by which the cover is supported when swung in an open position.

The carrier receptacle 1 is secured to uprights 8, which project above the same and are provided at the upper end with a rectangular frame 9. Mounted. between the intermediate uprights 8 and below the frame 9 is a motor in the form of a spring 10 with Specification of Letters Patent. Patented; Feb. 201, Application filed June 9, 191 6.

SeriaI No. 102,749.

one end fixed with relation to the frame, and the other end secured to a gear wheel 11 supported upon an arbor or shaft 12 mounted in the frame bars 8. One end of the arbor extends beyond one of the frame bars and is provided with an operating handle 13, whereby the wheel may be rotated with the effect of winding the spring 110.

The carrier is adapted for travel on a track, shown in this instance, as a line wire 14., of appropriate diameter and supported at the respective ends, and at determinate points throughout its length on uprights 15. T he carrier supported from the wire and adapted to travel. thereon through the medium of grooved rollers 16 and 17 mounted at the respective ends of the frame The roller 16 is mounted upon an axle 18, guided in longitudinally arranged slots 19, in the frame bars, and supported in hangers 20, which at their upper ends are mounted for rotative connection at 21,with brackets 22, in the frame 9. By this means the wheel 9 is capable of a turning movement to adapt'the travel of the carrier to curves or other irregularities of the track 14.

The track wheel 17 constitutes the driving wheel of the carrier and the axle 23 thereof is mounted for a longitudinal sliding movement with respect to the frame. On the axle or shaft 23 ofw the wheel 17, there is secured a gear pinion 2 1 adapted for cooperative mesh with the drive gear 11 when desired. Arms 25 depend from the shaft 23, and support the shaft 26 of a second or reverse gear pinion 27, the latter through the'mediuni of the arms being held at all times in mesh with the pinion 24. The arms 25 are pivotally mounted in the frame at 28, and on this pivot is mounted the inner .end of an operating lever 29, which, beyond the arms 25, is pivotally connected at 30 to an arcuate bar 31,

gage any one of a plurality of notches 341;

in a locking segment secured to the upright.

From the above description it will be obvious that with the spring under tension and free to operate the position of the lever as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings will hold the gear pinion 2 L in direct mesh with the driving gear 11, thereby driving the carrier in one direction. As the lever is swung to its opposite limit of movement,

that is, locked in the lowermost notch, the

the driving gear, and the latter may be turned to permit the winding operation without movement of the carrier operating parts. By preference the end uprights 15 of the track are provided with spring buffers 36 to avoid injury to the carrier in impact.

The improved devicewill operate efiectively to transfer mail from the postmans delivery point to the house or residence and also from the residence to the mail collection point with certainty, thereby avoiding the necessity of a person making the trip. The mechanism is simple, readily and *asily controlled, and it is contemplated that the spring will have sullicient tension under proper winding to cause a complete round trip of the carrier.

What is claimed is:

The combination with a track, a carrier mounted for travel thereon, a spring operated driving gear mounted on the carrier, track engaging means mounted on the carrier, a pinion having fixed relation with one of the wheels, a reverse pinion in mesh with the first mentioned pinion, pivotally supported arms in which the respective pinions are mounted on opposite sides of the pivot, a lever mounted on the pivot, and connections between said lever and arms on the respective sides of the pivot to operate the arm sections in reverse directions to move either pinion into engagement with the spring operated driving gear.

In testimony whereof I a i'lix my signature.

HUGH BACON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

1 Washington, D. C. 

